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Overnight Guests Who Don't Like Cats: What To Do?
- Thread starter Gigi6
- Start Date
Good for him!
Good for your DH. I'm just stunned that anyone could NOT fall in love with your cats. They are all so gorgeous.
Thank you. The cat who did this wasn't a Persian - this was before I got into pedigreed cats. He was a lovely black and white rescue from the local shelter, who was named CB (short for Cuddlebug).
It will stress your cat, but I think it might be wise to hoard her with your cat sitter. That way, the chance of anything unfortunate happening is greatly reduced. No cat escaping or a potential of your FIL doing something unfortunate to the cat.
Some cultures don't tolerate cats or dogs very well.
Keep us updated, please.
Some cultures don't tolerate cats or dogs very well.
Keep us updated, please.
I agree with a safe room, but I definitely wouldn't lock her in. I would just let FIL know that if he wishes to stay at your home, there is a cat here. You will do your best to keep her away but this is her home too. He definitely is not to ever kick her. If he is not ok with this, then he needs to stay at a hotel.
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #26
Good for you husband! Unfortunately in my case, things are trickier because we’re dealing with a close relative, and more so like you said because he’s from a different culture. My husband and I have made it clear it to him last time he came that we love the cat, and despite whatever his opinion is, she’s a family member and we treat her as such. He will respect our rules when we are around, and we can always intervene if Coco somehow comes into his “personal space”. I also know that he wouldn’t set out to harm or scare my cat on purpose. My concern is how he would behave if both my husband and I are not around. He wouldn’t go looking for the cat, but if she somehow ends up close to him or goes to touch his stuff out of curiousity, I’m not 100% sure he will always be gentle and out of fear he may react inappropriately. Also as I’ve mentioned before he’s a bit of a busybody and he may be in and out of the backyard without always making sure to close the door, giving Coco a chance to get out of the house. I don’t want her to be exposed to any of that, so all you guys gave me great solutions & suggestions, which is to keep her in a designated comfortable room where she can be fully safe. It’s a short-term compromise.
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That's why I wish all houses and apartments were built with a little hallway with 2 doors instead of the one door opening straight to the great outdoors. It would prevent cats from escaping.
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I am grateful for mine everyday. I can't imagine what it would be like if our home didn't have a small walk in area before completely entering.
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #29
Thank you! I will keep you updated for sure
Our sitter unfortunately doesn’t board pets. I have a comfortable room in the basement with that can be locked. I will temporarily “board” her there, as others in this wonderful online community have suggested, with everything she needs when we’re not around so she doesn’t have to be there alone with my FIL. The room also has a street-level window where she likes to sit and watch squirrels and birds. When my husband or myself are around, we would let her out again.Yes it’s very unfortunate that some cultures are not very tolerant of pets. The younger generation of his country though now love and have pets, and even the more open-minded people of his age now are accepting pets and appreciating their companionship. He’s very old school and closed-minded though, and doesn’t accept change. He doesn’t believe that cats and dogs belong in our houses, and possibly has the perception that they are “dirty” and can spread diseases, which is an incredibly outdated way of thinking. He didn’t say all of these things out loud, but I’m positive that’s how he thinks and that’s why he’s afraid of any animal touching him. My husband told him that we take our cat to the vet for annual visits where she’s checked and vaccinated, and in the warmer months we give her topical flea medication to prevent her from getting fleas. He probably thinks it’s all a waste of money haha. If only he could open his mind and see how rewarding it is to have a companion pet!!
At the end of the day, he’s only staying for a short while and not coming back soon. If he does for longer than 2 weeks, we rent out an apartment or airbnb for him. So what he thinks doesn’t really matter and won’t change anything.
Sorry for the long rant!! My FIL obviously gets on my nerves haha
FWIW, my dad was a self-proclaimed cat hater. But one day when he saw Roger warming Sweet Thing's ears he went nuclear: "Are you pinching that cat's ears?! Why on earth would you do such a thing?!" Roger had to very patiently and calmly explain what he was doing and why, because this man who "hated" cats actually hated animal abuse.
Margret
Margret
I would rather board out your husband and his father than the cat; but I'm not really a family person as you see
